Sean meeting Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina at his school in Finglas

Speaking to Ray D'Arcy on RTE Radio One, Sean's dad explained: "He wrote us a wonderful letter. We were very taken aback by it. We cherish the letter. We have it in a lovely frame in a place in our home.

"And not long after that I got a phone call from his aide asking if it was okay if President Higgins came out visiting our house. He wanted to pay his respects in person.

"It wasn't in his diary... it was a private and a personal thing he done for us."